Getting together with family or friends (or both!) to enjoy an almost-summertime picnic?
Check out these clever tips from our book, Summer in the Country!
For the crispiest fried chicken, start in the morning. Combine 2 tablespoons salt and one cup of warm water in a large bowl; stir to dissolve the salt. Add chicken to the bowl, cover with very cold water and add a tray of ice cubes. Chill in the fridge until dinnertime, then drain, pat dry and fry.
Make picnics kid-friendly by tucking lunch into summertime sand pails.
Fill each with a wrapped peanut butter & jelly sandwich, a kid-size
bag of chips and a cookie. After lunch, the pail will be perfect for
holding all kind of goodies.
Keep picnics festive and comfy...bring along colorful, soft quilts and blankets for lunch in the shade. Once lunch is over, those cozy quilts also create a perfect spot for napping!
Whip up a fresh salad dressing for any tossed salad...in a jiffy! Whisk together 1/2 cup raspberry spreadable fruit, 1/3 cup raspberry vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon poppy seed and 1 cup canola oil.
Set citronella candles inside Mason jars and terra cotta pots...keep the pesky pets away with summertime style!
Put a new spin on picnic sandwiches changing up the bread...herb loaves, French bread and focaccia are all tasty. Small split rolls or stuffed pitas are easy for littler hands to hold.
Slip bottles of water in the freezer...when frozen, pack inside the picnic cooler. They'll keep foods fresh and as they melt, you'll have lots of chilled water for quenching thirsts.
the salad serving bowl into a larger
bowl filled with crushed ice.
Garden-fresh herbs make the best butter! Blend together 1/2 cup butter with 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese and 3 tablespoons chopped chives. Spread over grilled veggies or rolls, it's simply delicious.
gather the corners below the table with
gingham ribbons...picnic perfect!
